The 8 Show (Review)
The 8 Show, a dark comedy recently released on Netflix, has received rather positive feedback; however, my opinion of the show is mixed. The premise is strikingly similar (or nearly identical) to that of Squid Game. In both series, a group of people is isolated in a remote location, cut off from the outside world, and must survive to win a large sum of money. It is suggested that the events are organized as exclusive entertainment for the wealthy. Additionally, the participants in both series are individuals in dire straits, desperate to obtain a significant amount of money at any cost. From the outset, The 8 Show positions itself against one of the most popular shows in Netflix’s history, and the comparison does not seem to be in its favor.
There are obviously some differences between the two shows. The 8 Show revolves around only eight titular characters. The isolated location where they spend several months is divided into eight levels. The resident of each level earns more money than the residents of the level below, reflecting the social stratification of modern societies. In the end, each participant has a chance of surviving the entire trial but will walk away with a sum smaller than the participants from higher levels. Predictably, everything goes wrong, and not everyone is so lucky.
The main problem I have with the show is that it is often boring. While Squid Game almost perfectly mirrored the events happening to the characters in real-time, The 8 Show struggles with depicting the passage of time. It aims for the entire trial to span months, necessitating the insertion of sequences to indicate time progression, to the detriment of the show. Consequently, the show suffers from pacing issues; the tension dissipates, and I frequently found myself longing for an earlier conclusion. Perhaps it would have been more effective as a film rather than an eight-episode series.
Additionally, labeling the series as a dark comedy seems rather misleading. While it contains a hint of irony, the show generally takes itself quite seriously. As a result, scenes that might have been intended as humorous often come across as grotesque or bizarre. For instance, there’s a recurring subplot about… human excrement. Given that the facility housing the participants lacks toilets, they must manage waste disposal on their own. The show persistently highlights this issue in almost every episode, in a manner that is quite peculiar. This also impacts the show’s verisimilitude: it’s implausible that a group of people could live for months without any means of waste disposal.
Opinions from social media agree that Chun Woo-hee’s portrayal of the 8th Floor is exceptional. Although she isn’t the main character, her performance is the most memorable. However, the 8th Floor character is depicted as a stereotypical deranged woman who has lost touch with reality. We learn almost nothing about her background, her motivations, or how she came to be this way, leaving Chun Woo-hee to work with incomplete material. Additionally, her near absence from the final episode, with her fate relayed through a remark by another character, is a peculiar send-off for someone who was, both literally and figuratively, the driving force of the show.
On the other hand, the main character, 3rd Floor (Ryu Jun-yeol), appears bland and uninspired, embodying every K-Drama cliché about a person who has lost all their money in a risky bet and is fleeing from loan sharks. This reflects a broader issue with the series: all characters are given very stereotypical backgrounds, and the show dedicates little time to exploring their personal histories. Consequently, viewers may struggle to empathize with the characters, given the scant details provided about their lives.
As a reflection, it seems to me that the same premise doesn’t always translate to success. It worked well for Squid Game, but not necessarily for The 8 Show. Moreover, this sets the expectations for the second season of Squid Game significantly higher; otherwise, it risks a similar fate to The 8 Show.
In conclusion, unless you truly have no better way to spend eight hours, I recommend you steer clear from The 8 Show. That is, unless you want to watch it on fast forward.
The 8 Show on Wikipedia and MyDramaList
